OFF the coast of Malaysia, in one of the world’s busiest shipping channels, an explosion on board the aging oil tanker Pablo ripped off its deck like a sardine can and began a fire that sent dark plumes of smoke into the sky.
It was a tragic accident that could have been a much larger catastrophe. The Gabon-registered ship, capable of carrying some 700,000 barrels of crude oil, was coming through the South China Sea after offloading a cargo in China — and so was nearly empty. Out of its international crew of 28, officials report that 25 were rescued by passing vessels. The blast happened just beyond Singapore’s congested waters.
But for nearby maritime authorities, the headache has just begun. There is little evidence of the owner, a Marshall Islands-registered company whose fleet contains no other ships, and no trace of insurance. Both are vital for a clean-up to begin.
An Aframax-class crude oil tanker observed in Iranian waters last year, the Pablo underlines the risks that come with the expansion of a dark fleet of aging vessels moving sanctioned oil around the globe. Since the wave of sanctions that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — including the price caps imposed by the Group of Seven, intended to limit oil cash going back to the Kremlin — observers in the oil trading community have reported the purchase of hundreds of old tankers by undisclosed buyers.
With limited details on who is responsible for this vessel, there has been no one to hold to account as it burned just 40 nautical miles off Malaysia’s Pulau Tinggi island. Oil, potentially from the wreck, has been reported washing up on Indonesia’s coast.
“The Pablo casualty is tragic, and a stark reminder of what we have been saying all along: the shadow fleet poses a serious threat both to people’s lives and to the marine environment,” said Rolf Thore Roppestad, chief executive officer of Gard AS, the largest of the protection and indemnity clubs that insure much of the world’s fleet against risks such as oil spills.
“What worries me is that there are ships like these passing through high-traffic straits every day,” he added. “So the likelihood of more accidents like this happening is actually quite high.”
The cause of the fire is still unclear, though it’s possible vapors from the remains of the oil cargo played a part. Regardless, when ships like the Pablo explode, the process of cleaning up the mess gets more difficult. Often, insurance companies, salvage businesses and various intermediaries begin dealing with the situation within a few hours of its happening.
But almost a week after this explosion, there is little sign of the insurer to get the process moving. The Pablo is not listed in an industry database of insured vessels, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency did not answer questions on insurance.
In instances where shipowners are unknown, local authorities will often press the crew for more information as they are one of the few people who know where a vessel’s orders are coming from. It is unclear whether that has been possible.
If the owner can’t be contacted, local authorities can seize the ship and try to cover what costs they can, according to Oon Thian Seng, founding partner of Singapore law firm Oon & Bazul LLP and at its associated Malaysian office, TS Oon & Partners LLP. However, it’s highly unlikely that selling what’s left of the charred Pablo would cover the costs of removal.
The dangers the Pablo, and others like it, are clear from its history. The tanker was flying the flag of Gabon, which is a very small destination for vessel registration and falls outside of something called the Paris MoU, set up to promote safe shipping. It was built in 1997, meaning it’s far beyond the age at which most tankers are sold as scrap.
Further, had the Pablo been laden with its most recent cargo, that would have been a major spill of oil sanctioned by the US.
The tanker spent two months at a shipyard near Shanghai, but before that its last two voyages were to deliver crude to Chinese ports in Shandong province, ship tracking data monitored by Bloomberg show. Data analytics firm Vortexa identifies both cargoes as Iranian heavy crude, which is sanctioned.
For authorities in Singapore, one of the world’s busiest shipping hubs, the question is how to keep legitimate oil cargoes moving — while avoiding accidents like this one. The Maritime and Port Authority said it had requested the assistance of 20 vessels in the region to report any sighting of Pablo’s three missing crew, and reported no disruption to traffic. Officials did not comment further.
Malaysian authorities said they suspended search operations on Friday evening as efforts haven’t turned up any sign of the crewmen. The explosion has made the ship unsafe to board, leaving it stuck off the country’s coastline for the time being.
The longer it stays there, the longer it remains a visible reminder of the risks that come with an expanding shadow fleet.
“Sadly, it’s the crew, their families, and the coastal communities that are paying the price,” Roppestad said. — Bloomberg
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida — KYODO/VIA REUTERS
TOKYO/SEOUL — Japan’s Prime Minister (PM) Fumio Kishida arrived in Seoul on Sunday to meet South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, facing a skeptical public there as the leaders seek deeper ties amid nuclear threats from North Korea and China’s increasing assertiveness.
Mr. Kishida’s bilateral visit, the first by a Japanese leader to Seoul in 12 years, returns the trip Mr. Yoon made to Tokyo in March, where they sought to close a chapter on the historical disputes that have dominated Japan-South Korea relations for years.
Before departing, Mr. Kishida told reporters he hoped to have “an open discussion based on a relationship of trust” with Mr. Yoon, without elaborating on specific issues.
Mr. Yoon is facing criticism at home that he has given more than he’s received in his efforts to improve relations with Japan, including by proposing that South Korean businesses — not Japanese companies as ordered by a court — compensate victims of wartime labor during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial occupation.
South Korean officials are hopeful that Mr. Kishida will make some kind of gesture in return and offer some political support, although few observers expect any further formal apology for historical wrongs. Mr. Yoon himself has signaled he doesn’t believe that is necessary.
The focus of the summit instead will likely revolve around security cooperation in the face of North Korea’s nuclear threats, said Shin-wha Lee, a professor of international relations at Seoul-based Korea University.
“Within the framework of the ‘Washington Declaration,’ which outlines plans to strengthen extended deterrence, Korea will explore ways to enhance the collaborative efforts with Japan,” she added.
“We have a lot of opportunities to cooperate when it comes to addressing the threat of North Korea” and securing a free and open Indo-Pacific, a Japanese foreign ministry official said.
Tensions have simmered between Washington and Beijing as China becomes more assertive in its territorial claims over Taiwan and in the South China Sea, while the US shores up alliances across the Asia-Pacific.
But the historical differences between South Korea and Japan also threaten to cast a shadow over the blossoming ties between its two leaders.
The majority of South Koreans believe Japan hasn’t apologized sufficiently for atrocities during Japan’s 1910-1945 occupation of Korea, Ms. Lee said. “They think that Prime Minister Kishida should show sincerity during his visit to South Korea, such as mentioning historical issues and expressing apologies,” she added.
On the other hand, Japan is taking it slow, said Daniel Russel, former US assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific.
“Kishida is being careful not to go faster than his domestic politics permit,” he added, pointing to the unilateral abrogation by the previous Korean government of a settlement on ‘comfort women’ as a source of Japan’s wariness.
In 2015, South Korea and Japan reached a settlement under which Tokyo issued an official apology to “comfort women” who say they were enslaved in wartime brothels and provided 1 billion yen ($9.23 million) to a fund to help the victims.
But then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in decided to dissolve the fund in 2018, effectively scrapping the agreement as he said it did not do enough to consider victims’ concerns.
Still, South Korea is an “important neighbor that we must cooperate with on various global issues,” Japan’s foreign ministry has said.
Mr. Kishida has invited Mr. Yoon to the Group of Seven summit set for later this month in Japan and will hold trilateral talks with the US on the sidelines.
Mr. Kishida will also urge for trilateral talks with China as early as this year, Kyodo reported on Friday, citing multiple unnamed diplomatic sources. — Reuters
A GUNMAN shot and killed eight people and wounded at least seven others at a busy mall north of Dallas on Saturday, police said.
The gunman, whom authorities said they think acted alone and whose motive was not yet known, was killed by a police officer after he began firing outside of the Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas, the city’s police chief Brian Harvey said at a press conference.
Allen fire department chief Jon Boyd told the same press conference that his department took at least nine victims with gunshot wounds to area hospitals.
Two of those people died at the hospital, Boyd said at a second press conference Saturday night. Three of the victims were in critical condition and four others were stable.
Medical City Healthcare, which runs 16 hospitals in the area, said in a statement that its trauma centers were treating eight of the wounded victims, who ranged in age from 5 to 61.
Collin County Judge Chris Hill, the top elected official in the county where Allen sits, praised police and other first responders at a press conference, but expressed deep anger with “those that would do evil in our community, in our backyard.”
Separately, police in the nearby city of Frisco, Texas, said they had evacuated the Stonebriar mall late Saturday after receiving reports of shots fired there. It was not yet clear if a shooting had actually taken place.
TV aerial images showed hundreds of people calmly walking out of the mall, located about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Dallas, after the violence unfolded, many with their hands up as scores of police stood guard.
One unidentified eyewitness told local ABC affiliate WFAA TV that the gunman was “walking down the sidewalk just … shooting his gun outside,” and that “he was just shooting his gun everywhere for the most part.”
Blood could be seen on the sidewalks outside the mall and white sheets covering what appeared to be bodies.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, calling the shooting an “unspeakable tragedy,” said in a statement that the state was prepared to offer any assistance local authorities may need.
Allen, Texas, is a community of about 100,000 people.
Mass shootings have become commonplace in the United States, with at least 198 so far in 2023, the most at this point in the year since at least 2016, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The nonprofit group defines a mass shooting as any in which four or more people are wounded or killed, not including the shooter. — Reuters
BANGKOK — Many Thais lined up on Sunday in long queues to vote early in parliamentary elections scheduled for May 14.
More than 2 million Thais had registered for early voting out of 52 million eligible voters who are aged 18 and above, according to the country’s election commission.
“I wish to see change and improvement in management,” said 51-year-old Gosol Pungtaku, one of the 800,000 Bangkok residents who registered for one-day-only early voting in the capital.
Another voter, 34-year-old Siriporn Namphet, said she voted for change.
“It’s like having seen what the previous government has done and now hoping for a new administration to take over and govern more effectively,” she told Reuters.
The election could upset the status quo after more than eight years of a conservative pro-military government led by former army chief Prayuth Chanocha.
Prayuth, 69, who first seized power in a 2014 coup and remained prime minister after the 2019 election that critics said was rigged to favour the junta leader, a charge the government denied, is trailing far behind opposition parties in recent opinion polls.
Opposition Pheu Thai Party, a populist group that won five general elections before 2019 and was ousted by Prayuth in the coup, is leading in most polls followed by the progressive Move Forward Party.
The election is for the 500-seat House of Representatives. — Reuters
It has been a year since the May 9, 2022 presidential election. Although the campaign was intense and exciting, the outcome saddened me. My candidate, the candidate of many friends and relatives, lost. Our candidate Leni Robredo lost by a wide margin to Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
We knew nevertheless from the outset that we faced an uphill climb. The Leni campaign started late in the game. Marcos Jr. enjoyed an overwhelming advantage in terms of financial resources, political networks, and party organization. The self-declared Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) indeed showed that Leni’s campaign spending was about three-fifths of Marcos Jr.’s spending. Marcos Jr. also benefited from the votes of supporters of then President Rodrigo Duterte.
These big disadvantages were not easy to overcome. Thus, during the miting de avance, or the final campaign rally, Leni urged her supporters to keep the faith. She said: “Natutunan natin, walang imposible.” (“We learned, nothing is impossible.”)
Leni’s walang imposible was more about a krusada (crusade) that does not end regardless of the election outcome. Leni’s krusada is about reforming if not overhauling the system, about a future with dignity, about practicing radikal na pagmamahal (radial love).
A year ago, too, on the eve of the May 9, 2022 elections, I wrote a BusinessWorld column titled “Walang impossible.” I took the cue from Leni’s miting de avance speech. I wrote:
“What we have is a big, spontaneous movement. It is the 21st century edition of People Power…
“It is this explosion of people power, including youth power. That makes me say that Leni, as well as the movement she leads, has won.”
My interpretation of Leni’s walang imposible went something like this: The 2022 presidential election was almost impossible for Leni to win. The writing was on the wall. Independent, trusted, and scientific surveys said so. (And shame on those who disparaged Pulse Asia and labeled it “False Asia.”).
But win or lose the election, we carry on. People power being alive gives us the energy and impetus to advance a longer-term krusada that Leni has initiated.
We did not attain victory in the 2022 presidential election, but we have secured solid gains on other fronts. The revival of people power, the reawakening of the youth, the sense of decency, the renewal of hope, the practice of radikal na pagmamahal.
A year after the 2022 elections, I remember that period positively, despite Leni’s loss. Contemplation makes me see the joy and triumph of the pink movement that Leni inspired.
Why joy and triumph? On a personal level, the experience of campaigning tirelessly and passionately for Leni and being with like-minded citizens voluntarily driven by a mission is a happy moment in my life. Simply precious.
On a more abstract level, I ask: Should the election campaign be measured only in terms of a win?
Of course, we and Leni wanted to win. But winning the election is not the only metric of success. Here, we expand our time horizon. Social, political, and economic reform is a long game. A loss at a particular time does not end the game.
The time was not propitious for reformers or progressives to win in 2022. The conditions simply did not favor us — the global rise of right-wing populism and authoritarianism, the spread of disinformation that was not easy to counter, the people’s disenchantment with a liberal order that exacerbated inequality, to name a few.
But there’s a time for everything. The baby boomers are familiar with The Byrds and their song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” The song’s lyrics come from the book of Ecclesiastes, King James version of the Bible. I quote part of the lyrics:
To everything (turn, turn, turn)/There is a season (turn, turn, turn)/And a time to every purpose, under heaven.
A time to build up, a time to break down/A time to dance, a time to mourn/A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together.
In May 2022, we mourned Leni’s electoral defeat. Losses along the way can nevertheless bring us closer to strategic victory. Lessons are learned.
There’s “a time to every purpose.”
Leni’s campaign served another purpose. It ignited a massive and spontaneous movement for reforms, for decency, and for radikal na pagmamahal. This movement — and the challenge is to gather stones together — is a significant step towards future wins.
A quote from Albert Einstein should give us pause for thought: “Failure is success in progress.” Remember that the Leni campaign is a krusada. It’s a long game.
The brand of people power that the Leni campaign generated will not vanish. It will be part of a national consciousness that will reawaken citizens. It has contributed to the revitalization of a civic culture. This movement will likewise strengthen over time and contribute to rousing democratic sentiments and enhancing civil norms.
And so, a year after the 2022 elections, like Leni, we strive to have happiness, ease, and serenity.
Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III coordinates the Action for Economic Reforms.
(This column is based on a paper presented at the 5th Paderanga-Varela Memorial Lecture.)
In 2022, my wife had an eye ailment. Discovered during a regular eye check-up, her doctor immediately scheduled her operation. We then went to the administrative staff to work out the financial details. The staff immediately told us that we could claim some deductions from PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.). But not to worry, all the papers are ready and she would just sign and the clinic will handle the rest.
As I was then doing research on the school vouchers, I was struck by the fact that when it comes to health delivery, we could choose the doctor and the clinic and the government pays. In contrast when it comes to education delivery, the government, with the exception of the school vouchers, requires that education could only be delivered for free if availed of through the public schools.
How could two sharply different basic service delivery systems operate in the same government?
We start with some basic statistics. There are 1,800 hospitals in the Philippines, of which 721 are public hospitals and the DoH (Department of Health) operates only 70 of them. In contrast, of the 43,765 elementary schools and 10,590 high schools in the Philippines, DepEd (Department of Education) operates all the 37,496 public elementary schools and the 8,228 public high schools.
Thus while the Department of Health has devolved the running of most government hospitals to the local government units, the Department of Education continues to run all of the public elementary and high schools in the country. This means a sharp contrast between the number of employees of the Department of Health and the Department of Education. While DepEd had 965,660 regular employees as of June 30, 2022, DoH had only 31,050. By the way, the largest private corporation, San Miguel Corp., has around 45,000 employees. And they need a Ramon Ang to run it.
This contrast in scale of operation is further reflected in the budget of these two government agencies, with the DepEd having a 2022 budget of P633 billion and the Department of Health a 2022 budget of P270 billion.
One final difference is the separation of the financing of the Universal Health Care System through the establishment of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. This provides not only the financing for the healthcare delivery system but, more importantly, its focus is on the patients or the recipients of healthcare services.
As a result, Universal Health Care coverage of all Filipinos is within reach covering already 96 million Filipinos.
The Department of Health, by design or default, adopted the principles of outsourcing in two critical areas. The first area is in the funding of the delivery of health services, through the outsourcing to PhilHealth. Once outsourced to PhilHealth, PhilHealth created a platform which could be used to service the various needs of its patients. This is shown by the different types of membership that PhilHealth offers.
The second area is in the management of the government hospitals. DoH, with the exception of the special hospitals such as the Heart Center, devolved most of its hospitals to the local government units. This lifted a heavy burden from the managerial and financial resources available to DoH.
These two outsourcing decisions resulted in my wife, the patient, being free to choose the doctor she would consult and the clinic where her operation would be performed.
In sum then we would argue that the service delivery system in education should be restructured to more closely resemble the service delivery system in health. More specifically:
1.) The public elementary schools and public high schools should be devolved to the city/municipal school boards where they are located;
2.) The establishment of the Philippine Education Development Fund along the line of the PhilHealth.
Devolving the public elementary and high schools to the city/municipal school boards could be beneficial for our Universal Education delivery system:
1.) Policies on the allocation and use of school vouchers will be done on the community level;
2.) Combine the resources of the local government with the school vouchers;
3.) Align the early school and early nutrition programs with the elementary school system;
4) Align the high schools with the Pamantasans (Colleges) of the local government;
5) Lower the cost of education. There are indications that local governments operate at a lower cost than the National Government. For example, under CHED (Commission on Higher Education), the cost of educating a student at the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), is around P39,000 while at the Pamantasan ng Pasig, an LGU college, the cost educating a student is around P14,000.
The Philippine Education Development Fund should take over the operation of DepEd in issuing vouchers.
Above all else, the concept underlying the school voucher of putting the student first, should be at the core of all reforms at the Department of Education.
The school vouchers would immediately incorporate what we believe is the superior feature of the health delivery system; the power of choice. Where the present health delivery system endows the patient the power to choose doctors and hospitals, the school vouchers will endow the students to choose their schools and courses. This means any student could enroll in any accredited school, be informed by the Office of the Registrar of the school fees due, the vouchers that could be claimed from the Philippine Education Development Fund, sign the papers so the school could handle the claims for reimbursement and pay the net school fees if any.
In addition to giving the student a choice, the system also lowers the cost of education. Studies have shown that the cost of educating a student in private schools is around half the cost of educating a student in public school with better learning outcomes.
In summary we recommend that the Department of Education be restructured as follows:
1.) The adoption of the educational policy that the interest of the student should be the first and foremost concern of the Department of Education;
2.) The adoption of the school voucher system as the core measure for putting the interest of student first and foremost;
3.) The creation of the Philippine Education Development Fund; and,
4) The devolution of the public elementary and high schools to the city/municipal school boards.
Dr. Victor S. Limlingan is a retired professor of AIM and a fellow of the Foundation for Economic Freedom. He is presently chairman of Cristina Research Foundation, a public policy adviser and Regina Capital Development Corp., a member of the Philippine Stock Exchange.
ONE foreboding royal ancestor stares down at visitors who enter Westminster Abbey through the great doors at the west end of the nave. Just steps before you reach the memorial to the unknown soldier is the first known painting of an English monarch, based on living observation if not an actual sitting. That is Richard II on the coronation chair, his more than 600-year-old visage placid but on the verge of a sneer. He is both legacy and warning, not just for Charles III, who will have passed beneath him on the way to his own anointing, but for you and I.
Charles’ crowning is religious pantomime, dramatizing the special relationship between the divine and the head of the royal family — and, by extension, with Britain itself. It’s all about being the chosen one.
Handel’s majestic coronation anthem (reminiscent of the Hallelujah chorus of his Messiah) invokes Zadok, the high priest of Israel, whose blessing ushers Solomon into kingship over God’s people. It will be performed while Charles is daubed with olive oil from holy hills in Palestine. This anointing takes place behind a screen to parallel the intimacy of Moses meeting face-to-face with the presence of God.
I’ve already heard one church sermon comparing Charles, the climate warrior, with Solomon, who had a deep knowledge of trees and birds and beasts. How glorious it is to be a master of the universe.
We know too much of Charles’ romantic history to truly see him as Solomon, “the wisest of men.” But as any wizened journalist has learned, there are wonders you can do to a story just by having a titled personage at the center of your narrative. Put a tiara on it and you’ve got nothing but readers. We all gravitate toward crowns because we aspire to them; we’d like to be kings and queens ourselves, even if it’s only in our own little universes.
That’s where Richard II becomes a parable for us all. He was a true master of 14th century Europe. He was Christ-like from his first moments on earth: His birth on the Feast of the Epiphany was attended by three kings — of Castille, Portugal, and Navarre. His father was Edward the Black Prince, heir to the throne who died of dysentery before he could succeed, so it was 10-year-old Richard who became king at the death of his grandfather Edward III. Richard’s first wife, Anne of Bohemia, was the daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor. He was physically imposing, too: Six feet tall in an epoch of short men.
But Richard was a disastrous king: tyrannical, perhaps schizophrenic, given to rages and conspiracies. When Anne died, he was so distraught he razed the palace where she’d breathed her last. He was deposed in a coup by a first cousin he had exiled — Henry Bolingbroke who became Henry IV.
Shakespeare too drew a portrait of Richard II. It’s certainly not from life — about two centuries separated them — but it derives from the playwright’s unerring grasp of the human condition. Richard gets one of his most moving speeches. The monarch has been an unsympathetic fop for most of the play that bears his name. Then, in the throes of trying to regain power, he realizes his allies have deserted him, that he is no longer in charge, that he cannot even pretend to be the ruler of England. He is devastated.
For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings —
How some have been deposed, some slain in war,
Some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed,
Some poisoned by their wives, some sleeping killed,
All murdered. For within the hollow crown
That rounds the mortal temples of a king
Keeps Death his court, and there the antic sits,
Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp,
Allowing him a breath, a little scene,
To monarchize, be feared, and kill with looks,
Infusing him with self and vain conceit,
As if this flesh which walls about our life
Were brass impregnable; and humored thus,
Comes at the last and with a little pin
Bores through his castle wall, and farewell, king!
Fate and failure reveal the fragility of power. After reaching the peak, there is no other choice but to descend — and sometimes, like Richard, you fall. This is his moment of existential clarity:
For you have but mistook me all this while.
I live with bread like you, feel want,
Taste grief, need friends. Subjected thus,
How can you say to me I am a king?
In the play, he is imprisoned and then murdered. In real life, Richard probably died of starvation in his cell. History is unforgiving and often more enlightening than scripture. Certainly more chilling.
Britain has seen so many principalities and powers crest and fall, it would be unwise to ignore the sad stories. But this is a grim lesson on a celebratory weekend. There must be some more practical takeaway for our daily lives than despair. Do all our strivings to be among the best and the brightest end with hollow crowns?
I take solace again in Westminster Abbey. It’s the site of an annual theatrical event: a walking tour of the church where most every corner and nook becomes a stage for the dramatization of scenes by the Bard of Avon. On a rainy March Friday, at the latest edition of Shakespeare in the Abbey, I stood by the memorials to Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking — masters of the universe in a different way — and listened to an actor perform Prospero’s final speech from the Tempest. The formidable wonder-worker has come to a decision.
…graves at my command
Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let ’em forth
By my so potent art. But this rough magic
I here abjure, and, when I have required
Some heavenly music, which even now I do,
To work mine end upon their senses that
This airy charm is for, I’ll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,
And deeper than did ever plummet sound
I’ll drown my book.
The wizard is giving up the very instruments that have made him overlord of the enchanted island. He realizes it is time to shift away from being in charge. He has the wisdom to cede it, knowing that a willing abdication is better than the shock of having authority taken from you. Power, as with all earthly things, is impermanent. As Prospero says earlier in the play,
In the parching heat of summer, all roads lead to the malls. Sunday is the day to literally “chill” in the air-conditioned comfort of a vast exhibition hall of the comforts of life. The malls are alive!
Who worries about the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate, the rising inflation, or the depreciating peso, when sitting it out in the long queues for that foreign-licensed Japanese fast food, at the local eat-all-you-can buffet, or the popular go-to Chinese restaurants, or any of the franchised food outlets at the malls? Yes, food seems to be the main attraction at the malls nowadays. Shopping has not reached the pre-COVID consumption levels of three years ago.
A young woman sits outside a name-brand store for ladies’ wear. She is tending a pet stroller with a fluffed-up Shih Tzu puppy dog and an older, well-groomed Bichon Frise. Why aren’t you inside the store — there’s a 50%-off sale? “My Mom’s inside, just taking a look at things,” she says. “I’m happier just sitting here, enjoying our dogs.” Look around, and there are dozens of dogs on leashes, prancing or waddling around in the mall, or riding serenely in strollers like they were precious little baby humans. The doggies even wear baby diapers!
The welcome presence of pet dogs in the malls is a subtle but eloquent statement for the noticeable shift in the priorities of society for quality of life over economic wants. Malls are now social places more than shopping places! For the economists and finance-conscious, the analysis of GDP growth and other econometrics might have crossed the line to the now-preferred “Gross National Happiness Index” that states that sustainable economic development is based on peace and contentment in society.
The phrase “gross national happiness” was first coined by the 4th King of Bhutan, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in 1972 when he declared, “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross Domestic Product.” The concept implies that sustainable development should take a holistic approach towards notions of progress and give equal importance to non-economic aspects of wellbeing (Oxford University, ophi.org.uk).
Bhutan since then adopted gross national happiness instead of gross domestic product as their main development indicator. In 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 65/309 Happiness: Towards a Holistic Definition of Development, inviting member countries to measure the happiness of their people and to use the data to help guide public policy. In 2012, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley of Bhutan jointly chaired the meeting “Well-being and Happiness: Defining a New Economic Paradigm,” that launched the first World Happiness Report which outlined the state of world happiness, causes of happiness and misery, and policy implications highlighted by case studies. It has been issued on an annual basis on the 20th of March, to coincide with the UN’s International Day of Happiness.
Finland leads the ranking of the world’s happiest countries for the sixth year in a row, with its score of 7.8 points out of 10, according to the 2023 World Happiness Report (WHR). The Nordic countries — Sweden, Norway, and Denmark — are in the top 10, with the United States in 15th place and the United Kingdom in 19th.
The Philippines is the 76th happiest country in the world, according to the 2023 WHR, down from 60th out of 146 in 2022 (PTV News, March 22, 2023). The Philippines scored 5.52 points in 2022 compared to the world average of 5.53 points for 135 countries (theglobal economy.com).
Of course, the long-staying COVID-19 pandemic has malevolently toyed with world happiness. Three years of anxiety sucked the joy out of living. The isolation and the restrictions on movement and contact perversely urged rebellious escape, but sane minds knew there was no way but to follow health protocols. Perhaps the resurgent interest in having pets is a coping mechanism for the robbing of joie de vivre. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was officially declared, internet searches in the ASEAN region for pets increased 88% from the same period in 2019, before the pandemic. Based on data from Google, the searches for pets in the region from January to September 2021 logged a total of roughly 12.9 million. “Filipinos have the highest overall searches for pets, reaching almost 7 million Google searches by September 2021, nearly four times [times] Vietnam’s,” the group noted in a release (interaksyon.philstar.com, Nov. 22, 2021).
Psychologists and therapists advise that “Pets, especially dogs and cats, can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve your cardiovascular health” (helpline.org). “Dogs have a magic effect: how pets can improve our mental health” is the title of an analysis in The Guardian (March 17, 2020) which says that “Canine companions trigger similar neural pathways to the parent-baby bond and reduce loneliness and depression. Now new pet therapy trials are reporting dramatic effects.”
It continues: “What is responsible for these therapeutic effects? One key aspect appears to be social recognition — the process of identifying another being as someone important and significant to you. The bond that forms between owner and pet is, it seems, similar to the bond that a mother forms with her baby.
“The importance of social recognition is increasingly acknowledged for the role it plays in helping us form networks. We now understand that healthy social bonds can play a key role in mental health; without them, we become lonely, depressed and physically unwell. And pets, it seems, can fulfil that role. Academic and psychologist June McNicholas points out that pets can be a lifeline for socially isolated people.”
And so, we tie together having pets and bringing these pets to the malls — showing off the “babies” that the pets are to their owners — in the grand revival of the social networking in the community so aptly demonstrated by the microcosm of society that is the mall. The 2021 Rakuten survey in Asia said the Philippines ranked the highest in terms of dog ownership at 67% and the second highest in cat ownership at 43% (The Philippine Star, Feb. 2, 2023).
That the malls welcome pets cannot just simply be a PR strategy for better marketing and sales. Mall operators recognize and respect the basic human right to happiness and health that can be found in the simple joy of having a pet and companion who loves unconditionally and faithfully.
All the malls in the Makati area now allow pets on a leash or in a stroller. Perhaps the most openly pet-friendly is the Rockwell Center, where happy pet owners, whether residents or transients, freely walk their dogs on the sidewalks, to and from buildings and into the Power Plant Mall, where social and commercial activities thrive, and even regular Catholic Holy Masses are held. The SM Mall in Makati welcomes dogs, as they do in Megamall, SM North EDSA, and all their malls in Metro Manila. But we were first to allow pets, the Ayala Center Estates Association (ACEA) claims. The ACEA even boasts of a “Bark Park,” an activity center for pets and their owners in the middle of the Glorietta Mall grounds, between their Park Terraces Condominium and Garden Terraces Condominium. And, yes, all Ayala Land Premier condominiums allow unit owners to have pets.
It is heartwarming and inspiring to feel the pets factor driving up the Happiness Index for Filipinos.
As Abraham Lincoln sagaciously said, “all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Amelia H. C. Ylagan is a doctor of Business Administration from the University of the Philippines.
Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort is TLDC’s flagship leisure development in Davao de Oro with 5-star villas where guests can enjoy a unique luxury island experience.
TLDC’s current and soon-to-rise properties are set to bring luxurious experiences to Mindanao.
Davao’s beauty is irrefutable. Its emerald slopes, white-sand beaches, and the looming presence of majestic Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak, make the province a traveler’s dream destination. On top of these is a vibrant culture and locals who, though warm and friendly, are fiercely proud of their unique heritage.
Despite its wealth of attractions, the region remains largely underrated and under the tourist radar.
But times are changing; Davao Region is quickly becoming an emerging travel destination. And Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation (TLDC) is quick to realize the region’s potential when it comes to business and tourism.
“Davao is one of the top growth regions of the Philippines and we already identified it way before 2016. We already knew that Davao was going to grow because the flights were always full. We would come here for our other businesses, and we realized Davao was ready for a five-star development,” shared Tomas P. Lorenzo, CEO of Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation in an interview with The Philippine STAR.
He added that Davao has a “healthy mix of people,” citing that the whole region has people who can afford luxury, those with relatives living abroad coming home for a vacation, and foreign visitors with international flights already streaming in.
Now, Davaoeños and visitors alike have three upscale accommodations from which to choose.
Dusit Thani Residence Davao and dusitD2: Oases in the heart of Davao City
Experience luxury resort living at the heart of Davao City at Dusit Thani Residence Davao with its well-appointed units and premium amenities.
Comfort, convenience, and style are the hallmarks of these modern hotels in Davao City. Both dusitD2 and Dusit Thani Residence are only a 10-minute drive to Francisco Bangoy International Airport, with easy access to the new central business district and convention center, as well as golf and country clubs, malls, and parks.
These are ideal places to book when in the city, whether you’re a business or leisure traveler. They boast rooms and suites that are each fitted with sleek contemporary comforts, ensuring guests will have a most relaxing and secure stay.
Dusit Thani Residence Davao is also for investors who want to have their own Dusit-branded residential unit to diversify their property portfolio beyond end-use.
Unit owners and guests at the Residence will enjoy the additional conveniences of having a dining room, modern kitchen with a built-in oven, induction stove, range hood, dishwasher, an elegant bath with a free-standing tub, a wardrobe closet with a full-length mirror, and a flat screen IPTV.
Views from the Residence’s private balconies are also something to look forward to, with sweeping landscape and seascape views of Davao Gulf and Mt. Apo.
Guests are given access to a full range of health and wellness services, a fully equipped gym and spa, and a 24-hour concierge.
They have upscale dining options, too, with the in-house all-day restaurant Madayaw Café, Dusit Gourmet, Benjarong Thai specialty restaurant, and the Siam Lounge, Davao’s newest “it” place.
Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation: Davao de Oro’s hidden paradise
Located in its integrated-use development Tierra Davao, Crown Residences is thoughtfully-master-planned to be in the same vicinity as dusitD2 Davao hotel and Dusit Thani Residence Davao, which is a mere minutes’ drive to the airport, and commercial and business districts.
A 40-minute high-speed boat ride away from Dusit Thani Residence and dusitD2 is a little-known island blessed with endless rows of coconut trees, white-sand shores, and almost a year-long dose of sunshine.
Called Lubi, this tiny, unassuming oasis in the middle of Davao Gulf holds one of Southern Mindanao’s most luxurious getaways.
“Dusit Thani Lubi is actually, believe it or not, an amenity of the two Dusit properties in Davao City,” Lorenzo shared. The resort is TLDC’s flagship project in Davao de Oro.
“When we decided to do the Dusit projects in Davao City, we needed a resort component. People will come to Davao; they want to go to the beach. So, I give them a five-star resort where they can go overnight and even for a day and they are treated with a five-star experience,” he explained.
True to his word, guests of Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation could expect no less than a five-star vacation. Nestled on an island paradise surrounded by clear, calm, and turquoise waters and blessed with both sunrise and sunset views, the resort is the luxury accommodation of your dreams.
A step out of the boat and into the dock immediately transports visitors from the mundane to the extraordinary, from reality to almost like a dreamlike state.
Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation’s design is inspired by the renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, the principal force behind what is today known as “tropical modernism.” It is also the only resort on the island, ensuring visitors the peace and privacy they seek for a perfect vacation.
Guests get to stay at seafront villas that come with an alfresco tub surrounded by lush gardens, and a private terrace and pool overlooking Davao Gulf.
The resort has first-class facilities including a fully equipped gym, tennis court, e-games, billiards, a giant chess board, mini golf, and recording studio.
For dining, they have delectable local and international options: Tarictic Grill, which serves Filipino dishes; Burger Bar at The Mill, which offers American and other Western cuisines; and Ga-ti Thai Restaurant.
The luxury villa experience embodies Dusit’s distinct brand of Thai-inspired, gracious hospitality blended with the warmth and friendliness of Filipinos for a truly unique and memorable resort experience.
Chefs on Tour: Bringing the best of Manila’s food scene to Davao
Tomas Lorenzo and Christoph Kuch (middle) with eleven of the country’s best chefs and Dusit’s very own Executive Chef in a one-time culinary showcase at the Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort.
Part of Lorenzo’s goal to bring luxury to Davao’s shores is “Chefs on Tour” which brought together 11 of Manila’s best chefs to dusitD2 and Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation for a two-night exclusive, upscale dining event last April 13 and 14.
Top chefs Sau del Rosario, Tatung Sarthou, James Antolin, Tom Bascon, Carlo Miguel, Josh Boutwood, Gilbert Pangilinan, Kenneth Cacho, J Brando Santos, Buddy Trinidad, Jackie Ang Po, and Thai chef Piya Suthasiri of Dusit Hotels and Resorts Davao, with their respective teams, treated guests to a fine dining experience like no other.
The chefs had their own station where they showcased their artistry and expertise by crafting a specialty fusion dish right before the very eyes of tantalized guests.
On the menu were: Chef James’ Ikumai Tuna Taco, chef Sau’s Roasted Veal Bone Marrow, chef Buddy’s Double Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie, chef Josh’s Hamachi Tartare, chef Tom’s Tuna on Nori Crackers, chef J Brando’s Birria Taco, chef Jackie’s Apple Religieuse, chef Tatung’s Patotim Bao, chef Carlo’s Braised US Angus Short Ribs, chef Kenneth’s A Mi, chef Gilbert’s Aklan Oyster and Bicol Uni Aburi, and chef Piya’s Smoked Quail.
Through the event, TLDC wanted guests to experience that they don’t simply offer developments, but a complete high-end lifestyle.
Tierra Davao: Dynamic yet intimate residential spaces
Located within the integrated-use development Tierra Davao, Crown Residences is Torre Lorenzo’s first premium residential development in Davao City. Present during the showroom groundbreaking ceremony are: (L-R) Mae Valdez, Area Sales Head for VisMin; Cathy Casares-Ko, TLDC Chief Operations Officer; Tomas P. Lorenzo, TLDC Chief Executive Officer; Belinda Reyes, Partner; Jennifer Umali, TLDC Chief Finance Officer
Lorenzo is a visionary, always thinking way ahead, well into the future. That explains why his projects for Davao Region won’t stop with the existing Dusit properties.
“Dusit Thani Residence and dusitD2 are only two components of a five-component integrated-use development,” he explained.
Called Tierra Davao, once completed, it will be a Php 3.2 billion integrated-use development with two residential towers called the Crown Residences, and the Crest Residences, a future office and commercial towers, anchored by the dusitD2 Hotel and Dusit Thani Residence.
The next project that will add to Davao City’s changing skyline by 2028 will be Crown Residences. Located in the same vicinity as the two Dusit properties, the 21-story premium residence will be a low-density development with a total of 322 units consisting of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units.
Floors will only have 19 units each, ensuring the privacy of guests. Each unit will have a private balcony with breathtaking views of Davao Gulf.
Envisioned to bring a new level of living in Davao City, Crown Residences will have 40 percent of its total space designated as open to support the physical and mental well-being of residents.
Its exclusive amenities include a yoga and meditation garden, jogging path, swimming pool, children’s playground, fitness center, and function rooms. The development is also pet-friendly, it will have a dedicated pet park where furbabies can saunter about.
Expanding its portfolio
TLDC has been known for its university residences and condominiums in Metro Manila, but they have started expanding their portfolio, especially with their ongoing projects outside the metro.
“We’re doing developments which are multi-building, integrated-use outside of NCR. Example is in Lipa, Batangas where we have two condominiums and one Dusit Princess Hotel coming up,” he shared.
Lorenzo said that they’ve expanded their focus because provinces allow TLDC to have a “bigger footprint and a nice integrated-use development.”
“We always try to think out-of-the-box. We don’t follow what other people are doing. Proof of that is this, we put up a five-star hotel here (Davao City) and to make it more incredible is we put up a five-star resort there (Lubi) and people are coming.” — Johanna L. Añes-De La Cruz
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Join us on Viber at https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA to get more updates and subscribe to BusinessWorld’s titles and get exclusive content through www.bworld-x.com.
NEW YORK – Ed Sheeran’s 2014 hit “Thinking Out Loud” did not unlawfully copy from Marvin Gaye’s classic 1973 song “Let’s Get It On,” a jury decided on Thursday in a closely watched copyright lawsuit – a verdict that the British pop star said would help protect the creative process for song writers in the U.S. and globally.
The jury in Manhattan federal court determined that heirs of “Let’s Get It On” songwriter Ed Townsend had not proven that Sheeran, his label Warner Music Group and his music publisher Sony Music Publishing had infringed their copyright interest in Mr. Gaye’s song. Mr. Sheeran hugged his attorneys in the courtroom after the verdict was read.
“It’s devastating to be accused of stealing someone else’s song when we’ve put so much work into our livelihoods,” Mr. Sheeran said outside the courthouse following the verdict.
“I want to thank the jury for making the decision that will help protect the creative process for song writers here in the United States and all around the world,” Mr. Sheeran added.
The verdict came after six days of trial and less than three hours of jury deliberations.
Mr. Townsend’s heirs sued Sheeran for copyright infringement in 2017, contending that “Thinking Out Loud” copied the “heart” of Gaye’s song including its melody, harmony and rhythm. Mr. Sheeran’s attorneys argued that any similarities between the songs involve basic musical “building blocks” that cannot be copyrighted.
The plaintiffs asked for a share of the profits from “Thinking Out Loud.” The heirs said in a court filing that they received 22% of the writer’s share of Mr. Gaye’s song from Mr. Townsend.
“I’m just a guy with a guitar who loves writing music for people to enjoy. I am not and will never allow myself to be a piggy bank for anyone to shake,” Mr. Sheeran said after the verdict.
PLAYING A CHORD PROGRESSION
Testifying during the trial, Mr. Sheeran denied the copyright infringement claims, telling the jury, “I find it really insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone diminish it.”
Mr. Sheeran on the witness stand played the chord progression to “Thinking Out Loud” and sang the opening words: “When your legs don’t work like they used to.” Mr. Sheeran testified that his friend and collaborator Amy Wadge first started strumming the chords for the song during a visit to his home in England, and that they collaborated on the lyrics.
Ben Crump, a lawyer representing the heirs, told jurors that Sheeran effectively confessed to ripping off Mr. Gaye’s song when he performed it live in concert as a medley with “Thinking Out Loud.”
Mr. Sheeran testified that singers frequently perform such “mash ups,” and that he had on other occasions combined his song with Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”
Juror Sophia Neis, 23, told reporters afterward that there had been “a lot of back and forth” in the jury room before the panel made its decision.
Lawyers for Mr. Townsend’s heirs did not immediately respond to a request for comment after the verdict.
Mr. Gaye, who died in 1984, collaborated with Mr. Townsend, who died in 2003, to write “Let’s Get It On,” which topped the Billboard charts. Mr. Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2015.
Two similar lawsuits are pending against Sheeran in Manhattan, brought by investment banker and “Bowie Bonds” creator David Pullman’s Structured Asset Sales LLC, which also owns copyright interests in Mr. Gaye’s song.
Mr. Pullman said after the verdict that he and his lawyers had learned from the trial.
“We’ll know what to expect,” Mr. Pullman said.
Mr. Pullman said one of his lawsuits in particular would be different because it involved a copyright on the recording of “Let’s Get It On,” rather than just the sheet music. Jurors in that case would be able to hear Mr. Gaye’s original hit, rather than the computerized rendition played in the now-completed trial, Mr. Pullman said.
Mr. Sheeran won a trial in London last year in a separate copyright case over his hit “Shape of You.” Mr. Gaye’s heirs won an important verdict in 2015 when a jury in Los Angeles agreed with the claims that the Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams song “Blurred Lines” copied Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up.” – Reuters
A VIEW of Makati City at night from across the Pasig River in Guadalupe, taken in May, 2020. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN
THE city government of Makati has tapped healthcare solution provider KonsultaMD to offer free online medical consultations to its employees and residents.
The program will initially cover 10,787 city hall employees, the Makati City government announced on Friday.
The city government plans to expand the program to cover 144,943 residents this year.The program aims to provide medical access to senior citizens, differently abled persons, bedridden patients, and those unable to visit healthcare facilities.
“We will test our program with our employees in city hall, and then eventually we will open this up to our Yellow Card holders,” Makati City Mayor Mar-len Abigail S. Binay said during the partnership launch at the Makati City Hall.
“This is the solution to our shortage of doctors, and also to unburden our health centers,” she added.
She also noted that this service works well with the city’s health centers and hospitals.
“We believe this partnership is a timely response for the growing demand for accessible and convenient and healthcare services,” Ms. Binay said.
“It can set a good example for other cities and organizations to follow, as we work together to overcome the challenges of the pandemic.”
KonsultaMD is an affiliate of 917Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, Inc.
The partnership is the first KonsultaMD project for a local government unit in Metro Manila.
Ernest L. Cu, Globe group president and chief executive officer, said that digital technology opens the door for Filipinos to have more access to different services.
“One of the most pressing needs is access to healthcare. There is one doctor for every 30,000 people,” he said at the partnership launch.
“It’s worse if you’re in the far-flung areas. However, we do have 4G coverage in over 99% of the population – so if you have 4G, you should be able to access teleconsultation,” he added. — Patricia B. Mirasol
